Means and method for heating conductors



May 6, 1941. G. w. HAMPE Erm. y 2,240,772

MEANS AND METHOD EUR HEATING CONDUCTORS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR HEATING CONDUCTORS George W. Hampe and Kenneth W. Miller, Chicago, Ill.; said Miller assigner to said Hampe Claims.

The present invention relates to means and methods for heating conductors.

When energy is supplied to distant points over electrical conductors, the losses in the transmission line vary with the loads transmitted and are in general detrimental to the efliciency of transmission. In certain cases it is desirable to heat the transmission lines and to have such heating supplementary to or independent of the heating caused by the load current losses. Such heating of transmitting lines is useful for the prevention of ice formation on overhead lines and for melting ice which has already formed, and also for the prevention of voids in the insulation of cables under varying transmitted loads.

The present invention has the advantage that the heating currents which are applied jointly with the load currents or independently are selfcompensating, so that the magnetic disturbances which they would otherwise tend to produce in the terminal apparatus are eliminated or minimized.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple means and a simple method ior heating the conductors of electrical transmission lines.

A further object is to provide heating means and methods applicable to electrical transmission conductors which are not only simple in operation but present no interference with the load currents.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1 is a simplied diagram showing a direct current source for directing heating current over a single phase transmission line;

Figure 2 shows a direct current source for directing current over a pclyphase line, illustrated as a three-phase line, said direct current source being associated with a star-connected bank of transformers;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the direct current source cooperatively associated with a zigzag connection of transformers;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 but showing the application of windings for magnetically opposing the windings of the starconnected bank of transformers; and

Figure 5 represents a system in which the heating or auxiliary current may be traced through loops or meshes in a single polarity or phase.

Referring iirst to Figure l, the numerals iiil0 indicate conductors connected at one end to the transformer ll and at another point to the transformer l2. Said conductors lll-l0 constitute branches of a single phase circuit. Said transformer H is provided with the primary winding i3 and the secondary winding I4. The transformer l2 is provided with the primary winding I5 and the secondary winding l5. Co-nnected to a mid point of the winding I4 of the transformer H is the source of direct current Il,

the opposite terminal of which is connected to ground. Bridged across the source Il is the switch i8. Similarly connected to the winding l5 of the transformer i2 is another direct current source Il, the opposite terminal of which is connected to ground and which is bridged by the switch I8.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, direct current from the source I1 may be said to pass to the mid point of the transformer winding Hi, thence over the two conductors ith-IG in parallel, to the winding i5 of the transformer l2. From the mid point of the Winding l5 of the transformer l2 said current may be said to pass through the righthand source il' to ground. It will be understood that in some cases it may not be necessary to provide the two sources il' and that a direct connection from the mid point of either Winding may be had direct to ground by closing of the corresponding switch I8. When the two sources il are used at dilferent stations they will usually be of such polarity that they will aid each other in circulating current over the line. If the line represented by the conductors itilil is only a portion of a larger transmission system, this polarity relationship might not always hold true.

Referring to Figure 2, the numerals iii-i @-4 9 represent three conductors, or branches, of a three-phase system. At the station represented at the left-hand side of the gure said conductors la-lS-I are connected to the transformer 25, the windings of which are star-connected, having the neutral point 2l. At the station represented at the right-hand side of Figure 2 the conductors i9 are connected to the transformer 22. The windings of the transformer 22 are also star-connected and they have the neutral point 23. A direct current source il is connected between the neutral point 2i and ground, and said source is bridged by the switch i3. Likewise, the neutral point 23 of the transformer 22 is connected through a direct current source Il' to ground, and said direct current source is bridged by the switch I8.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figur- 3 the conductors or branches lL-iS-IB are connected, at the'station represented at the left-hand side of said figure, to the transformer 24. Said conductors il are connected to the transformer sli, the windings of which have the well known zigzag connection. Said transformer 24 is provided with the neutral point 25. The conductors ii-ig-i 5, at the station shown at the right-hand side of said iigure, are connected to the transformer 25, the windings of which have the well known zigzag connection. The transformer 2t is provided with the neutral point 2T. Each of the neutral points 25 and 26 is connected to ground through the direct current source il which is bridged by the switch I8.

The construction illustrated in Figure 3 has the advantage that tl e auxiiiary or heating cur-- the source or sources i' will be 4tically self-neutralizing- In the system illustrated in Figure 4 the con* ductdrs or branches l-lQ-ES of a polyphase circuit are connected, at the station indicated at the left-hand side of said ngure, to the transformer 28, the connection between said conductors l and the windings of the transformer 28 being the well known star connection. Said transformer 2S is provided with the neutral point 29. ikewise, at the station represented at the right-hand side of Figure 4 the conductors |9-I9-I9 are connected to the transformer 3H in a` star connection, the neutral point being indicated by the numeral 3l. At the station at the left-hand end of Figure 4 a direct current source I1 is provided, having one of its terminals connectcd to ground and having the other of its terminals connected to the neutral point 2.3 through the cle-magnetisme windings 32--32-32, which de-rnagnetizing windings neutralize the effect of the auxiliary or heating current directed along the system by the direct current source Il, At the station illustrated at the right-hand side of Figure 4 the neutral point 3| is connected di- `rectly to ground. A direct current source 33 is provided which has its terminals connected to the terminals of a loop 34 adapted to direct demagnctizing current to neutralize the effect of the heating current passed through the windings of the transformer 30.

The construction illustrated in Figure 4 has the advantage that in. a star connection of transformer windings the direct current heating current may be directed in parallel over the conductors of the system, but the added magnetizing eifect of such heating current will be neutralized by the de-rnagnetiaing windings 32, as illustrated at the left-hand side of Figure 4, or by the demagnetizing loop 3d, as illustrated at the righthand side of Figure 4.

Referring now to Figure 5, an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which an auxiliary or heating current may be applied to each phase or polarity of an electrical conducting system.

The numerals 35d, 35h and 35.0 indicate the bus bars at a station 35; the numerals 38a, 3th and Bric indicate the bus bars at a station 36; the numerals la, S'ib and 31e indicate the bus bars at a station 3l; the numerals 33a, 33h and 38o infiicate the bus bars at another station 38; and the numerals 35a, Beh and 33e indicate the bus bars of still another station 39. The bus bar 35a of station 35 is connected to the corresponding busy bar 35a of station 35 by means of the conductor 40, which comprises the two branches 43a and Mib.

A similar conductor comprising the parallel branches 4Go and 40h, connects bus bar 35h with bus bar 36o, and another similar conductor 40, comprising the parallel branches Mic and 4%, connects bus bar 35o with bus bar 35C. Each oi the conductors 4!! has cooperatively associated therewith the transformer All. Each of said transformers is provided with a primary winding 42, which may be excited from any preferred source. Each of said transformers is provided with a pair of secondary windings 453-43, which are connected in circuit with the branches 4to and 4th. Each of the secondary windings 43 is bridged by a switch dit. According to the construction thus far described in connection with Figure 5, a heating current may be induced in the secondary windings li3-43 to be directed in series between corresponding bus bars from station 35 to station 353 and return. Load currents flowing in parallel through the branches to and 46h will set up opposing magnetomotive forces by means of the windings 43-43.

The connections between the stations 3S and 3'! embody the present invention in a system where such stations are connected by paralleled lines, which are spaced apart physically a considerable distance. The bus bar 'ma of station 36 is connected to the bus bar Sia of station 3l by means of the two parallel conductors 45 and 45. Likewise7 the bus bar 36h of station is connect-v ed to the bus bar 31h of station 3'! by similar conductors 45 and 45. Likewise, bus bar 35o of station 3E is connected to bus bar 3io of station Si by similar parallel conductors 45 and dit. Each of the conductors i5 is provided with the trans former winding 4l, which has associated therewith the corresponding transformer winding' 43. Said transformer winding 4l may be bridged by the switch 43. Likewise7 each conductor 46 is provided with the transformer winding Sil, which has cooperatively associated therewith the transformer winding 5i. transformer winding 5B may be bridged by the switch 532. The numeral 53 indicates a transformer provided with the primary winding 54, which may be excited by any preferred source. Said transformer is provided with the secondary windings i3d-56, which are connected to the transformer windings 48 and 5l.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention as applied to the connections between stations 35 and 31, it will be noted that a heating current may be induced in the transformer windings 4'.' and 5c by the application of current from said preferred source to the corresponding primary winding 54. The heating currents induced in the transformer windings il and 5t will pass in series between stations Sii and 3'! and return.

Referring now to the connections between stations 31, 38 and 35i, said stations are looped together. Bus bar Sla oi' station 3l is connected to bus bar 35a of station 3c by means of conductor 5ta. Said bus bar 36a of station 38 is connected to bus bar 39a of station 39 by means of the conductor 5th. Said bus bar 39a of station 39 is connected to bus bar Sla of station 3l by of conductor Said three conductors tito, 55D and 56o combine to form a continuous series conductor which may be indicated by the numeral 5S. Bus bar 3io of station 3l is connected to bus bar 38h of station 38 and bus bar Seb of station 3Q by a similar conductor 53 made up of the portions in series 55d, 56h and 55o. Likewise, bus bar 37e of station 3l is connected to bus bar 35e of station 33 and with bus bar 39o of station 39 by means of a conductor 56 made up of the portions in series 56a, 56o and 56C.

Figure shows two alternative means for directing heat or auxiliary current through the conductors 5G, one being a direct current source 51, which may be bridged by the switch 58. Said direct current source 51 is connected in series in each of they conductors 56 and is adapted to direct a heating current in series through said conductor," which conductor, in its function of carrying load current, provides paths, one branch of which is embodied in the .conductors 56a and 56h and the other branch of which is embodied in the conductor 56e.

Figure 5 also shows an alternating current source for directing a heating current through each conductor 5t. For this purpose each conductor 56 is provided with one or more transformers 59 each having a primary winding 60,

which may be excited from any preferred source. a

Said transformer 59 is provided with a secondary Winding 6l :bridged by the switch 62. It will be understood that the heating current induced in the secondary winding 6I will flow in a series circuit through the conductor 56, which conductor, as explained above, in its function of carrying load current, provides a plurality of paths, one leg of which is embodied in the conductors 56a and 56h and the other leg of which is embodied in the conductor 56o. A plurality of transformers 59 are illustrated in the various portions of each conductor 56, which transform ers will aid each other in directing the heating current through the conductor 56.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is `claimed is:

1. In an alternating current transmission system, in combination, a plurality of conductors, transformer windings connected to said conductors at their opposite ends to form a star connection at each end, each of said star connections having a neutral point, a source of heating cur-- rent connected between one of said neutral points and ground, the other of said neutral points being connected to ground, and de-magnetizing windings opposing certain of said transformer windings for carrying current from said source of electromotive force through said conductors in parallel.

2. In a power transmission system, in combination, a plurality of conductors, transformer windings at'the opposite ends of said conductors for forming a zigzag connection at each end to complete an alternating current system, each of said zigzag connections being provided with a neutral point, a source of heating current connected between ground and one of said neutral points, the other of said neutral points being connected to ground, said transformer windings at each end of said system being connected to set up mutually opposing magnetizing effects due to flow of current from said source of electromotive force.

3. In a power transmission system, in com bination, a plurality of conductors, transformer windings at the opposite ends oi said conductors for forming a star connection at each end to complete an alternating current system, each of said star connections being provided with a neu tral point, a source of heating current connected between ground and one of said neutral points, the other of said neutral points being connected to ground, and de-magnetizing windings in circuit with said source adapted to oppose the magnetizing eifect of said transformer windings at at least one end of said system.

4. In a power transmission system, in co1nbination, a plurality of conductors, transformer windings at the opposite ends of said conductors for forming a star connection at each end to complete an alternating current system, each of said star connections ibeing provided with a neutral point, a source of heating current connected ybetween ground and one of said neutral points, the other of said neutral points being connected to ground, de-magnetizing windings in circuit with said source adapted to oppose the magnetizing effect of said transformer windings at at least one end of said system, `and de-magnetizing windings cooperatively associated with the transformer windings at said other end for neutralizing the magnetizing effect of current set up by said source of electromotive force.

5. In a power transmitting system, in combination, bus bars at spaced stations, a conductor connecting like bus bars at said spaced stations, said conductor comprising a pair of branches adapted to operate in parallel for carrying load current, transformer means having a pair of windings each located in one of said branches, said windings being connected to set up opposing magnetomotive forces due to load current flowing in parallel through said branches, and. means for inducing electromotive forces in said transformer windings which are additive to set up a heating current in series through said branches.

GEORGE W. HAMPE. KENNETH W. MILLER. 

